How to Design Certification Stickers for Children’s Toys?

H2953db557b304ee09a3c38f2ea3ec42cY.jpg_720x720q50

I. Anchor the Core Principles: Safety First, Clear Information

Children’s toys are used by a group whose physical and cognitive abilities are still developing. This determines that the design of certification stickers must prioritize safety and clarity, while also balancing compliance and practicality as the underlying design logic.

The principle of safety runs through the entire design process, first and foremost reflected in material selection. Sticker substrates must comply with the GB 6675 series of toy safety standards, using non-toxic, odorless, and wear-resistant environmentally friendly materials. Adhesives and printing inks containing harmful substances such as formaldehyde or phthalates must be avoided.
For toys intended for children under three years old, stickers must have anti-peel properties, with rounded edges to prevent children from biting, ingesting, or being injured by sharp edges. If the sticker area exceeds 5 cm², it should be designed as a non-removable structure, or a warning such as “Do not bite or peel” should be clearly marked on the sticker surface.

II. Focus on Key Elements: Standardized Presentation of Core Information

The core value of certification stickers lies in conveying compliance information. Therefore, the design must be structured around three essential elements: certification marks, product information, and warning statements, ensuring that each item meets regulatory requirements and is easy to identify.

Certification marks are the visual core of the sticker and must be designed strictly in accordance with official specifications, without arbitrary changes to proportions or colors.
Taking China’s CCC certification as an example, the mark consists of the three letters “CCC,” typically presented as red letters on a white background, or black letters depending on the toy’s appearance. The letter height must not be less than 5 mm, and the mark should occupy at least 20% of the total sticker area, positioned in the most prominent location.
For the CE certification, the mark must be at least 5 mm in height with evenly spaced letters. For small toys (such as finger spinners), the mark may be reduced to 3 mm, provided it remains clearly legible. Some certification systems also require the inclusion of an identification code of the certification body. For example, CCC certification requires the issuing authority’s English abbreviation to be printed next to the mark. This information must be consistent with the certification documents to ensure traceability.

III. Optimize Visual Expression: Balancing Cognitive Friendliness and Brand Fit

On the basis of compliance, optimized visual design enhances readability and acceptance while ensuring harmony with the overall toy design, avoiding any negative impact on aesthetics.

Color schemes should balance authority and child-friendliness. Certification marks must follow official color standards, such as the red-and-white scheme for CCC or the blue-and-white scheme commonly associated with CE, to ensure recognizability and seriousness. Other areas of the sticker may use soft pastel or light color palettes, avoiding overly saturated or harsh colors that could overstimulate children’s vision.
For infant toys, gentle tones such as light yellow or pale blue paired with simple line graphics are recommended. For toys aimed at school-age children, brighter color contrasts can be introduced, provided that the contrast ratio between text and background is no less than 4:1, in line with visual recognition standards.

Font selection should prioritize clarity and readability. Sans-serif fonts such as Songti or Heiti are preferred, while decorative or italic fonts should be avoided. Key information—such as certification marks and warning statements—should be in bold, with a font size no smaller than 14 pt. Supplementary information, such as the manufacturer’s address, may use a smaller size (e.g., 10.5 pt), as long as it remains clearly legible at a distance of 30 cm under natural light.
For multilingual stickers, Chinese and foreign languages should use a consistent typographic style. For English or other languages, Arial is recommended to ensure readability for international consumers.

IV. Adapt to Special Scenarios: Targeted Solutions to Design Challenges

Different types of children’s toys and usage scenarios impose varying requirements on certification sticker design. Designs should be optimized based on the toy’s material, form, and usage conditions to ensure practicality and safety.

Sticker materials must be compatible with the toy surface. Smooth plastic toys are suitable for waterproof, abrasion-resistant PVC stickers, enhanced with lamination for durability. Plush toys, with their soft surfaces, should use washable woven labels or heat-transfer markings to avoid adhesive failure and contamination. Wooden toys may present certification information through laser engraving, eliminating the risk of sticker detachment while maintaining material consistency.
For toys with uneven or irregular surfaces—such as rubber balls or irregularly shaped figures—flexible sticker materials should be used to ensure close adhesion and prevent edge lifting.

V. Strengthen Compliance Verification: Ensuring Standards Are Met

After the certification sticker design is completed, it must undergo multi-dimensional compliance verification to ensure it meets not only visual requirements but also regulatory and safety standards, thereby reducing compliance risks caused by design oversights.

First, conduct a standards cross-check against the certification regulations of the target market, verifying that the mark’s format, size, and content meet all requirements—for example, confirming that CCC stickers include the “CCC” mark and the issuing authority code, or that CE marks have the correct proportions.
Second, perform physical performance testing by simulating real usage scenarios. Test abrasion resistance, water resistance, and adhesion to ensure the sticker does not fade or detach during normal use. For toys intended for children under three years old, bite-and-pull tests must be conducted to ensure the sticker cannot be torn off and accidentally ingested.